198. "And it came to pass, as her soul was departing for she died." Rabbi Aba asks, If the words, "as her soul was departing," mean that she died, WHY DOES THE VERSE CONTINUE WITH THE WORDS, "FOR SHE DIED?" HE REPLIES, THE WORDS, "FOR SHE DIED," were necessary TO INDICATE THAT THE SOUL did not return to the body, and she died bodily. THE DEPARTURE OF THE SOUL IS NOT AN INDICATION OF BODILY DEATH, for there are people whose souls departed and later returned to their places. This is the meaning of the verses, "And his spirit returned to him" (I Shmuel 30:12), "And their heart departed" (Beresheet 42:28), "My soul departed" (Shir Hashirim 5:6), and, "until there was no soul left in him" (I Melachim17:17). But when RACHEL'S soul departed, it did not return, and she died.

199. "That she called his name Ben-oni," because of the severe Judgment decided against her. Jacob, however, turned him to the right, NAMELY, TO CHASSADIM, to bind the west, THE NUKVA, to the right. And though he is Ben-oni (lit. 'the son of sorrow') OF THE NUKVA from the aspect of rigorous Judgment, NEVERTHELESS he is the Son of the Right, because THE NUKVA became attached to the right. HE THEREFORE CALLED HIM 'BENJAMIN,' THE 'SON OF THE RIGHT,' BECAUSE HE ATTACHED RACHEL TO THE RIGHT, TO CHASSADIM.

200. She was buried by the road. Her death and place of burial were known, AND SHE WAS BURIED BY THE ROAD IN AN OPEN PLACE. But the death and burial place of Leah are not recorded, although the four mothers share a secret, as has already been explained.